Kamisato Estate.
After hearing Kamisato Ayaka's explanation, Nolan finally understood.
In short, the Yashiro Commission's responsibilities mainly involved rituals, festivals, and cultural affairs. But while construction across Inazuma was booming, the Yashiro Commission seemed… a bit idle.
Of course, since festivals and ceremonies only took place on fixed dates, it was normal to have downtime.
Still, when every other commission was visibly swamped, their relative leisure made them look negligent in the eyes of outsiders.
So the Yashiro Commission wanted to contribute in its own way.
After much consideration, they decided the best way to support Inazuma's growth was to grant people's wishes—helping them with small troubles and everyday problems.
That way, citizens could devote themselves fully to their work without distraction, which in turn would benefit Inazuma's development.
After all, countless people were often held back by trivial concerns. They'd end up failing both in their jobs and their personal affairs, weighed down by frustration.
If the Yashiro could help, people would be grateful beyond measure.
"But… does the Yashiro even have enough manpower? And what about the funding?"
Nolan frowned.
Inazuma was vast. If such a project were truly carried out, the manpower and budget required would be considerable.
After all, they couldn't just help people in Inazuma City alone—that would surely draw criticism.
"Mm." Ayaka nodded gently and explained:
"So the Yashiro plans to issue commissions to adventurers, solving the manpower shortage that way.
"As for funds—the Commission has many enterprises. Whenever we hold festivals, there is always surplus revenue. Diverting some of it to pay commissions is no problem at all."
She shook her head slightly, assuring him it wasn't a concern.
In other words, it was similar to townsfolk posting requests through the Adventurers' Guild, only this time, the Yashiro would proactively gather people's wishes and pay the commission fees themselves.
"Hehe! And since they don't have enough people, that's why Ayaka came to us!" Yoimiya puffed out her chest proudly.
Seeing her bandages shift with the motion, Nolan chuckled and said, "That's fine. I'm an adventurer—taking commissions is my job anyway."
"Then I'll be counting on you." A smile blossomed on Ayaka's fair face.
[Kamisato Ayaka Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 360 Affection Points, Current Affection Level: Lv.6 (20/600).]
Seeing the prompt pop up on his panel, Nolan thought—even without commission money, this was a profit.
"So then, who do we help first?"
"The wishes have already been collected. Most of the smaller ones have been left to Thoma, the Commission staff, and adventurers who've taken commissions.
"But two requests remain—one involves the Grand Narukami Shrine, the other the Tenryou Commission. Naturally, only someone of your… stature would be suited for these."
Ayaka raised her fan gracefully to her lips, smiling with poise.
"Oh? Tell me the details."
"The first concerns the deputy of the Arataki Gang, Miss Kuki Shinobu.
"The Arataki boys, in their zeal to spread the fame of their boss and their gang, plastered flyers everywhere.
"They even stuck them inside the Grand Narukami Shrine. Hehe… I heard the Guuji had them taken straight to the Commission office. Now, Miss Kuki Shinobu is fretting over how to bail them out."
Ayaka's snow-white bangs swayed lightly in the breeze.
"Eh? If it's nothing serious, shouldn't they just be released with bail?" Yoimiya tilted her head.
"Normally, yes. But aside from Miss Shinobu, the rest of the Arataki gang are practically regulars at the Commission.
"So this time, bail alone won't suffice. They'll need the Shrine's forgiveness as well."
"I see. Well, they are quite the troublemakers, aside from Shinobu," Nolan chuckled. "And the other request?"
"The second involves a courier from Komaniya Express—Miss Kirara.
"Due to an accident, she lost a package belonging to General Kujou Sara of the Tenryou Commission.
"She's in a panic. Given the urgency, you should help her first, then attend to Miss Shinobu afterward."
Ayaka offered her advice.
"Mm! Then let's head out right now!" Yoimiya's eyes sparkled as she looked at Nolan.
"Alright." He nodded.
"These are the two commission slips. I'll await your good news here at the estate."
Ayaka handed them the detailed requests.
Leaving the Yashiro Commission, Nolan and Yoimiya followed the commission's guidance—returning first to Inazuma City, then heading toward Komaniya Express.
Komaniya Express was a multinational delivery company, famed for safe and punctual service—no matter the country.
Inazuma's people held it in high regard.
Soon, they arrived. Though not a large shop, business was brisk compared to other courier services.
The reason was simple: they had one truly exceptional employee—Kirara.
She was a yokai, a nekomata with twin tails, whose deliveries almost always arrived safely and on time.
Bright, lively, and irresistibly cute, her satisfaction ratings were sky-high.
But now, because of a mishap, she had lost an important delivery—Kujou Sara's package from the Tenryou Commission.
She was deeply anxious, desperate to recover it before the delivery deadline passed.
Just then, the girl spotted a pair of young visitors stepping inside.
"Are you here to send a package?" Forcing down her panic, Kirara greeted them politely.
She wore a teal-green jacket, a black top that barely covered her chest, leaving her pale stomach exposed, and a short skirt that left her legs bare.
Two feline tails swayed lightly behind her.
Look closely, and one would notice—her feet weren't human at all, but the paws of a nekomata in her true form.
Nolan and Yoimiya didn't need to guess—this had to be the Kirara who needed help.
"No, we're not here to send a package. We were sent by the Yashiro Commission to help you. Remember? Not long ago, someone asked if you had any wishes to be granted?"
Yoimiya explained their purpose.
"Eh? It's actually true? Yesterday, when they asked me if I had any wishes, I just casually mentioned something. I didn't think they'd really send someone!"
Kirara exclaimed in surprise and delight.
[Kirara Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 320 Affection Points, Current Affection Level: Lv.3 (20/300).]
Nolan nodded.
"The Yashiro wouldn't raise people's hopes just for fun. They truly mean to help fulfill wishes.
"So please, could you tell us exactly what happened with the lost delivery?"
"Yes, yes! I'll explain everything in detail—please, you have to help me!"
As if grasping a lifeline, Kirara poured out the story.
Just yesterday afternoon, she picked up a package from a toy factory outside Inazuma City. Inside was one of only five hundred limited plush dolls resembling the Shogun herself.
Because of the limited run, they were wildly popular. To buy one usually meant lining up at the store overnight just for a chance.
Kujou Sara's plush was a prize from a lottery. Since the stores were sold out, the factory had to produce a few extras exclusively for lottery winners to claim.
And now, such a rare item had gone missing—and it was Kujou Sara's package at that.
If she failed to deliver, and the general grew angry… Kirara feared she might be thrown in a cell.
The only way out was to retrieve the package before the delivery deadline expired.
Normally, with her experience, such a thing should never happen. But on her way to the Tenryou Commission with the parcel, a sea breeze drifted inland—carrying the scent of fish.
With time to spare, she followed the smell and stumbled upon a group of wandering ronin grilling fish by the shore.
They must have been criminals, because the moment they saw her, they moved to silence her. If she escaped and brought the Shogunate guards down on them, it would mean prison.
But as a yokai, Kirara was no pushover. Outnumbered though she was, the ronin couldn't defeat her outright. She was much more agile and could have retreated easily.
Yet after shaking them off and hurrying back toward the Commission, she discovered her parcel had been torn open during the fight.
Its contents were gone—likely fallen out in the scuffle.
When she returned to search, the ronin were gone, and only fish bones remained on the beach. The lost item was nowhere to be found.
"So, you want us to track them down and recover General Sara's plush, right?" Nolan said with a smile.
"Yes, exactly." Kirara nodded. "The plush is useless to them. But if they toss it aside, finding it will be much harder. We must hurry."
"Then, Miss Kirara, we'll need you to guide us back to where you encountered them," Yoimiya said.
"Of course! Thank you so much—I'll take you there right away!"
Kirara said gratefully.
[Kirara Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 300 Affection Points, Current Affection Level: Lv.4 (20/400).]
Seeing the panel prompt, Nolan was pleased and simply replied, "It's no problem."
Following Kirara, they headed out of the city.
To save time, Nolan confirmed the spot where she'd met the ronin, then used spatial teleportation to take them there instantly.
The sea breeze was cool, and fish bones still littered the shore.
When they arrived, the place was just as empty as the night before. Under normal circumstances, finding the ronin now would be nearly impossible.
The tides had already washed away their footprints.
Without a skilled detective, it would be almost hopeless to track them.
"Maybe you could try extending your spiritual sense?" Yoimiya suggested.
Though she herself couldn't use it, she had often seen Nolan do so. Perhaps it would uncover clues invisible to the eye.
He nodded and released his spiritual power. Indeed, the shore's prints had been erased.
But soon, he found a clue.
On a leaf in a low bush nearby was a fresh smear of mud—like a footprint brushed against it.
Someone had passed through recently.
He couldn't yet be sure it was the ronin, but he pressed onward, scanning carefully with his spiritual sense like a living detector.
Before long, he spotted faint prints in softer soil further inland.
Clearly, the ronin had some counter-surveillance awareness. But under the poor light last night, they'd missed some of their traces. Now those shallow prints betrayed their path.
Nolan followed the trail with his spiritual sense until he finally located them—on the beach behind Kannazuka Island, resting against the cliff walls.
They'd even taken cover so as not to be easily spotted.
"Found them," he told the others.
"That quick? Makes sense—they couldn't have gone far in just one night. Let's hurry, before they ditch the package!" Yoimiya urged.
"Mm!" Kirara nodded eagerly.
[Yoimiya Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 320 Affection Points, Current Affection Level: Lv.9 (420/900).]
[Kirara Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 300 Affection Points, Current Affection Level: Lv.4 (320/400).]
(End of Chapter)
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